About this item
Fort Laramie was one of the most important frontier outposts of the American West. Founded as the trading post Fort William in 1834, the fort became a U.S. military post in 1849. Beginning in 1841, emigrants stopped at Fort Laramie while traveling the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails. Fort Laramie served as a gathering place for thousands of Native Americans and hosted the 1851 and 1868 treaty councils. When the treaties failed, the post became the staging area for campaigns that eventually led to the tribes's confinement on reservations. Fort Laramie was abandoned by the military in 1890; the buildings were auctioned and served private interests during the homestead period from 1890 to 1937. Fort Laramie was acquired by the state of Wyoming in 1937, and the fort became a unit of the National Park System in 1938.
About the Author
Starley Talbott was raised on a Wyoming ranch. She has traveled the world and lived in four countries. Starley has been a freelance writer for more than 30 years and began her writing career as a photo-journalist with the Saratoga Sun weekly newspaper in Saratoga, Wyoming. At the age of 60, Starley joined the Peace Corps and served briefly in South Africa. Starley's world travels are detailed in her book, "Lasso the World." Starley and her husband enjoy visiting wineries and she wrote about vineyards and wineries in her books--"Along the Grapevine Trail," and "Four Corners Vineyards and Wineries." She has completed three books in the Arcadia Publishing series of "Images of America" books: "Platte County;" "Fort Laramie;" and "Cheyenne Frontier Days (available June 2013) ."
